THE KANSAS CITY-BASED HALL FAMILY FOUNDATION HAS PLEDGED $42 MILLION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS. THE GIFT, THE LARGEST PRIVATE GIFT FOR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN KANSAS HISTORY, WAS ANNOUNCED TUESDAY, JUNE 19, AT THE K-U MEDICAL CENTER IN KANSAS CITY.

IN AN INTERVIEW LAST WEEK, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CHANCELLOR ROBERT HEMENWAY CALLED THE GIFT AN ENDORSEMENT AND A CHALLENGE TO THE UNIVERSITY.

"It's the largest philanthropic gift that we know of that's been given to a Kansas educational institution. So it's a tremendous endorsement of K-U's direction and also a real challenge to K-U to live up to that direction." (13 sec.)

THE KANSAS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION ACCEPTED THE PLEDGE FOR K-U'S THIRD MAJOR FUND-RAISING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. HEMENWAY SAYS THE HALL FAMILY FOUNDATION GIFT RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION WILL PLAY IN THE CAMPAIGN.

"The University of Kansas has a superb record of raising money privately for support of the institution. This is a way to recognize not only an upcoming campaign, but also the important role that the Kansas University Endowment Association plays in K-U's success." (15 sec.)

THE HALL FAMILY FOUNDATION DESIGNATED THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE PLEDGE, $29.5 MILLION, FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES, INCLUDING $27 MILLION TO HELP FUND A NEW RESEARCH FACILITY AT THE K-U MEDICAL CENTER IN KANSAS CITY.

HEMENWAY SAYS THIS PORTION OF THE GIFT FURTHERS K-U'S PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER KANSAS CITY ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH, SUCH AS THE STOWERS INSTITUTE, THE MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY.

"The life sciences initiative is really a collaborative and collective endeavor by all the major research elements in the Kansas City area and this helps us ensure that K-U is going to be a major part of that effort." (12 sec.)

UP TO $7 MILLION WILL BE COMMITTED TO THE HUMANITIES AT K-U. THIS INCLUDES A $3 MILLION PLEDGE TO REMODEL THE EXISTING HALL CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES, OR CONSTRUCT A NEW BUILDING.

IN 1985, K-U'S CENTER FOR HUMANISTIC STUDIES WAS NAMED FOR JOYCE AND ELIZABETH HALL, FOLLOWING THE FOUNDATION'S GIFTS FOR HUMANITIES PROFESSORSHIPS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT. HEMENWAY SAYS THANKS TO THAT SUPPORT, K-U NOW BOASTS AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION IN THE HUMANITIES.

"The quality of the work that's done by K-U faculty and the Hall Center for the Humanities is recognized nationally and internationally. It's through the generosity of the Hall family that we are able to say that." (14 sec.)

$4.5 MILLION DOLLARS ARE PLEDGED TO CREATE OR SUPPLEMENT DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIPS IN BUSINESS, THE HUMANITIES AND LIFE SCIENCES. UNDER THE KANSAS FACULTY OF DISTINCTION PROGRAM, THE STATE WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSORSHIPS. HEMENWAY SAYS THIS MONEY IS CRUCIAL TO ATTRACTING HIGH QUALITY FACULTY TO THE UNIVERSITY.

"You're always in the business of trying to find the very best professors because really the university is your faculty and so when you're investing in your faculty, you're really investing in the heart and soul of the university." (12 sec.)

THE FOUNDATION ALSO PLEDGED $5 MILLION TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILDING AT K-U'S EDWARDS CAMPUS IN OVERLAND PARK. THE BUILDING REPRESENTS THE FIRST PHASE OF A $71 MILLION EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS. HEMENWAY SAYS THIS MONEY REFLECTS K-U'S RAPID GROWTH IN ENROLLMENT AT THE EDWARDS CAMPUS.

"The commitment to the new building at the Edwards campus really means that the Hall family wants to recognize and encourage continued involvement of K-U in graduate and professional education in the Kansas City area." (13 sec.)

HEMENWAY SAYS THE HALL FAMILY FOUNDATION GIFT WILL HELP KU ACHIEVE ONE OF ITS GOALS.